I have a thing for food blogs, they allow me to consume all sorts of eye candy without gaining a pound. I have favorites for different reasons, and love Simple Bites because it is written with the family in mind – real food, simple ingredients, useful solutions, and a strong focus on simplifying your life in the kitchen – all wrapped up in a pretty package.
The must read post….hmmm….I would have to say these ones, because I have been trying my hardest to get a menu plan in place. Sometimes my hardest isn’t always that effective, so maybe with a little help I can find a way to make it easier! Can I throw this one in there too? I just discovered them and can’t believe more people don’t cook with them!
You no doubt have heard about Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, his message is simple – our kids deserve better. Really it starts at home, and Aimée’s list ties in perfect with that idea. She has asked that it be dedicated to Jamie’s mission to fight childhood obesity in America. Have you signed the petition?
Aimée Wimbush-Bourque
{image by Tim Chin}
I’m always lobbying for parents to get their kids in the kitchen with them, perhaps because that’s where I grew up alongside my mother and big sister.
Now that I have two children of my own, it seems they are always underfoot as soon as I pull out my Kitchen Aid. Fortunately, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sure, cooking with kids often requires the patience of a Saint, but I believe the benefits far outweigh the challenges.
Just think, during this worthwhile bonding time, your children can practice basic math skills, learn simple cooking techniques as well as valuable lessons in nutrition – all while fostering creativity.
And perhaps the most important benefit? You will help teach them to embrace food, real food.
Although my children have –ahem- somewhat selective palates right now, they love FOOD. Growing it, harvesting it, cooking it and (OK, my least favorite) playing with it.
Here are twelve reasons that I believe helped us get to where we are today.
How to Help Your Child Embrace Real Food
- Involve your child in menu planning. Let him pick a meal once a week or choose vegetables at the market, and show him you are taking his tastes into consideration.
- Get them into the field. Visit local farms. Go berry picking. Help them make that connection between field and plate.
- Cook over an open fire once in a while. No utensils required.
- Get them cooking in the kitchen. Even the simplest task such as making a sandwich can instill a sense of accomplishment.
- Sit down around the table as a family. I think we all know how important this is.
- Provide many opportunities to try new foods. But don’t be discouraged if they don’t love everything you serve them.
- Make food for others. Bake something from scratch – and give it away.
- Get their hands dirty. The joys of play-dough are transferable to the kitchen. Roll up their sleeves and make a batch of meatballs.
- Relax about their eating habits. This too shall pass.
- Be a role model. Try to approach cooking with enthusiasm, and not as a chore, as your child will emulate your perspectives.
- Encourage the ‘one bite rule’. “How do you know you don’t like it when you’ve never tasted it?”
- Grow some food. Playing in the dirt has never tasted so good.
Now it’s your turn, are you trying to bring more real food into your home? If you do already, how do you help your kids to embrace it?
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I love her blog – so inspiring!!
One of my favorite food blogs too, just diccovered it recently and it’s wonderful. Great tips on getting kids involved in the kitchen.
Love this – and I am doing my bit to help spread this around! Been studying/practicing nutrition for decades, grew up on a farm when EVERYthing was organic (1950′s) and am now getting certified (officially!) as a natural health specialist going to do health and wellness coaching! You gals keep up the great job with the kids! It ALL starts in the kitchen!
Hugs
suZen
First I have to say I tried the “one bite rule” and it is now a staple at my dinner table! There are perks to getting a list a week before everyone else!
I go through spurts when I try harder than other times with food, and right now I have not been doing so hot…so this is the little kick in the pants I needed.
Sometimes it is just easier to give ‘em what they want, but I need to try harder at getting them to eat what they NEED.
Love this! We go to the Farmer’s market every weekend. I encouragehim to look at all the produce and smell. My tot has always been a great eater. He helps me in the kitchen when I am cooking. it’s also fun to eat and remind him “this is what we picked out at the farmer’s market this morning!” That always gets him excited.
I know this is controversial, but I have become a believer in dessert. Now that I have a tot, I usually make a dessert…even if it’s something simple or if we have ice cream. (Hagen Daaz has the nwe “5″ line with simple ingredients. ) He is a really good eater, but I have no trouble saying that we can’t have dessert until we eat a few more bites. I think it teaches that moderation is good. Sweets don’t have to be a bad thing…Funny part is that after he eats dessert, he usually goes back and eats more off his plate!
Best,
Tina
ah, the great subject of getting your child to eat. I am always up for new ideas. One of my boys is great (the youngest) and the other, well shall we say he is challenging. He ate pickles for breakfast today and that might be the only thing he eats all day….
In trying to get him more interested I realised that he needs to be a little more autonomous with his food. That is not to say he gets to choose everything, but we have started him spooning out the pasta he wants (no sauce – ever!) or cereal, or putting the cream cheese on his crackers. He has his own toddler cook book and apron. We recently started playing ‘name that veggie/fruit’ when we go to the supermarket. Not only does it make the whole experience a little more fun for everyone, it does help him identify yummy foods – even though he is yet to eat most of them.
One last thign I shall share with you all was told to me by a wise paediatrician when we first started having these issues. He said ‘never get into a fight over food with a toddler – you wont ever win!’
I know he’s right btu sometimes it tests your patience.
Smiles
I am a huge fan of real foods. I try very hard to not feed my child processed…crap! I started early with my daughter. When she started eating solids I made her baby food. It’s so easy and affordable to do it and compared to the jarred food, she liked it a lot more. I knew what my baby was eating. That’s what I like to do with food in general. I like to know what’s in it so I like to make things from scratch…however, I do use convenience items too. I am human. My daughter is 14 months now and is a little picky, but she eats a ton more things than other kids her age. She LOVES tomatos. I even put homemade balsamic vinaigrette on top and she loves it. Don’t be afraid to feed them what you eat. I am a stay at home mom, so I do have more time than working moms to spend cooking, but I usually do stuff in bulk so I don’t have to cook everyday.
Anyways, Thanks for this post. Love the info. I’ll be using these tips as my kids grow up!
We decided about 2 months ago to become a real food family. My kids have loved it because 1.) we try out all sorts of new recipes (many of which are snacks/desserts!), and we won’t stop until we get just the perfect one , 2.) they get more say in their ingredients since I make almost everything from scratch (no dehydrated onions in sauces anymore!), 3.) I cook much more often, which has led to the children hanging out in the kitchen too, and eventually cooking with me, 4.) they have found that they absolutely prefer my new homemade items to the store-bought equivalents, 5.) they are actually really proud of themselves for being healthy, and 5.) we have saved $200 a month in grocery bills, which allows more $ for playing! And it’s been such a large paradigm shift for us, that they are actually excited to try new foods as I trot them out (though we have a rule that I never reveal ingredients until after the meals are finished and tastes declared.
i must say my 16 month old’s taste for food changes……and with a somewhat picky husband who after 9 years with me finally eats (and loves) salad i’ve learned this……sometimes you have to be exposed to something as normal for long enough before you can wrap your mind around its normalcy when eating. you have to taste it once. and then again. and maybe 10 more times before your mouth decides it tastes good. so i keep offering the things my wee one spits out the first time. last night for the first time he enjoyed fresh steamed green beans! pretty sure the last 10 times i served them he played with them and spit them out. just keep trying and the younger you expose them the better i guess. we’ll see how he eats at 16.
I tend to make things from scratch and my daughter is a bit out of touch about processed food. One day my niece was over and we were baking a cake. When I told my niece we would be making the frosting next, she turned to me in disbelief. She thought frosting only came in cans! At which point, my daughter turned to her and said, “You can get frosting in cans?” What a pair!
Love this! Thanks for the link… so excited to add her to my foodie roster;)
We always had a huge garden growing up, and as I’ve mentioned before my mother made EVERY THING from scratch. She loved to cook– and just like Aimee implied, because of her passion to create delicious, healthful meals for her family, I too carry that same attitude today with my own family.
I start my children on a little bit of everything from the time they are tiny… nothing is off limits. I was once told by a nutritionist that it can take up to 20 times for a child to grow accustomed to the taste/texture of a new food. Problem is that most parents will only try once or twice, and then give up if the child does not respond favorably to the new food.
So my advice would be to just keep trying.
My eldest daughter swore she would never learn to love fish. Now she asks for it. Persistence pays off!
I love the idea of getting them involved in menu planning. I know my older boy would feel so cool to know we were planning dinners that he picked. All of your ideas are so great. This is a great list.
* Go places with your kids where food is important.
We attend many potlucks (church related, raw food community related, kids music lessons related) and it seems to impact the way our kids relate to food. Good times, good food, good feelings, good memories.
Great tips….we do most of them but you have given me some new ideas! Thank you!! We go on food (ad)ventures to new restaurants, farms, community gardens and my daughter loves it!!
I love the photo! Good job to Tim Chin, such a wonderful montreal wedding photographer.
And the thought is lovely too, we look forward to being able to get our twin boys involved in the joys of cooking and baking, they’re a little too young right now but soon enough they’ll be able to join on the fun. we’re real food crazies
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